Published: Thursday, 3rd October 2024
Friend’s groups across Cannock Chase have been awarded for their outstanding contributions from the Heart of England Bloom Awards.
The Heart of England Bloom Awards recognise towns for their impact on local environments through floral displays, community work and environmental schemes. The awards ceremony took place in Coventry last month.
The Friends of Cannock Stadium Park have been awarded an "Outstanding" rating in the It’s Your Neighbourhood criteria for their allotment, recognising their year-round efforts in collaboration with Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles (IHL), West Chadsmoor Family Centre, and the Staffordshire Network for Mental Health. This year, IHL introduced a wellness wheel garden, aligned with the themes of the Cannock Chase Can app, which promotes healthier lifestyle choices. The plants in the garden reflect the app's theme colours and attract pollinators with their diverse food sources. Judging for the Parks entries is based on 40% Horticulture, 30% Environment, and 30% Community involvement.
Thanks to the dedicated Friends of Heath Hayes Park they have retained their Silver Award, driven by the community's ladybird-themed flower beds. The group’s free, year-round activities, particularly the popular Scarecrow Trail, engage local businesses and wider community groups, attracting visitors from across the district during the October half-term.
Ravenhill Park, supported by Vysions Youth Services, has also retained its Silver Gilt Award, thanks in part to their impressive 'Incredible Edible' vegetable garden near the play area.
Summer activities at Elmore Park included the creation of a Mental Health mural, which transformed the park's classroom. With the installation of new toilets, Elmore Park achieved a Gold Award for the first time.
The Friends of Cannock Park Association have made significant strides in documenting the park's history, with hopes of releasing a book by Christmas. Recent efforts include local students planting a native wildlife hedge, and Council staff installing a Datteln flag in a flower bed to honour a visit from Cannock's German twin town. These community-driven initiatives helped Cannock Park regain its Gold Award.
Hednesford Lions have worked diligently throughout the year to maintain the Hednesford War Memorial, installing a replica sign for the centennial memorial service and adding sound equipment to ensure the service can be heard even from the gates.
Lastly, the Friends of Hednesford Park continue to support the park's biodiversity with the addition of a new pond and a living willow trellis wall, constructed with the Prince's Trust to help manage flooding. Their year-round work with vulnerable members of the community has helped the park retain its Gold Award.
John Preece, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Leader for Parks, Culture and Heritage said: “It was a pleasure to attend the awards and see the achievements made by the partnerships between Cannock Chase Council, Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles and the Voluntary Sector. These partnerships help to give added value to the quality of our parks, and the success of these awards would not be possible without this vital community support.”
Lynn Evans, Community Officer for Parks and Open Spaces explains “The Green Flag and Heart of England in Bloom Awards are an important part of the calendar year to inspire continual improvement within our parks and give us an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our community volunteers. Volunteering and spending quality time in our parks and open spaces are both essential to good mental health, so it makes sense to combine the two. If anyone wishes to set up or be part of a friend’s group in their local park, please contact Lynn Evans on 07855 099353 or email lynnevans@cannockchasedc.gov.uk
These collective efforts reflect the strong community spirit across the Council’s parks, highlighting the importance of collaboration and dedication in enhancing our shared green spaces.